End of year review

While we are technically not finished for the year (as I say to Faith and everyone who says "are you on summer break?" -- "we're finished when the books are finished, unlike school-school") I think we are done enough to look back and see what worked, especially since I am already planning for next year.

We are also done enough to create, at the very least, a cover page for an end-of-year folder I'll probably not make (just being honest). I did the fun part anyway.

Photo by Eric Albrecht

About what worked for fifth grade:

When my sons were in fifth grade we used Seton neat. I realized when Faith started schooling that straight Seton would not work for her, so I started picking books from other established curricula. Each year is a new year and I enjoy seeing what suits her and what does not.

CHC Spelling -- It's quick and fairly painless (although oh the complaining when a dictionary is required). I haven't decided if we will use a spelling book next year. I have a friend who teaches sixth grade in Catholic school and spelling is part of the Language Arts curriculum, but not segregated. I might just use Spelling City next year, using words from vocabulary and reading, but then again, if I use a text, I know it will get done.

Seton Vocabulary -- Faith liked this book even though she had to use the uh...dictionary! I'll use the sixth grade book next year.

Saxon math -- I can't rave enough about Saxon's math. It saved my second son from failing in math, and Faith really doesn't mind it (though I'll tell you she rarely has to do the entire problem set, but that's the beauty of Saxon). Faith was a little behind, I felt, after using Teaching Textbooks in fourth, so we started with 5/4. We will move right into 6/5 over the summer.

Voyages in English paired with Exercises in English. This is one of my favorite book combos. We started using it with Seton and I used several different texts with Faith in her earlier years, but I love Voyages. I think my little old-fashioned girl loves it, too. We will use this combo through eighth grade.

Audiobooks from the library. While I admit my initial motivation for using audiobooks was to better train my little student to listen, I knew, deep down, she was not getting exposed to as many books as she should because she dislikes reading. She has better comprehension reading to herself, but she reads the very minimum. She "reads" a lot more books when we are running errands or picking Noah up from school when we are using mom-selected audiobooks.

Map Skills E

Sure things for next year:

Seton Vocabulary

Saxon math

Voyages in English and Exercises in English

Science and Living in God's World paired with library books for illustrations

Finish Prima Latina and begin Latina Christiana

Religion for Young Catholics 6 and The Baltimore Catechism

Map Skills F

Editor's Note: My apologies to dear Sarah of Among Lovely Things, whose darling idea I copied. In my hurry to publish as "the storm of the century" (not --thank goodness) was bearing down on us yesterday evening I forgot to link up. I can't wait to click over and see all the cuteness!